Tony Schanuel: Artist Revisited

Three of Tony Schanuel's works have just been aquired by the Musuem of Fine Arts Houston for their permanent collection. For an artist to be recognized in this way for creating musuem quality work is high praise and a great honor -- an honor often reserved for artists who are no longer living. Tony and his wife, Mary (WWTW May 1996), are alive and well and living in St. Louis, MO.

Tony Schanuel is an award-winning digital artist who has fused a professional background in photography with advanced digital technology to create fine art that transcends both mediums.

Schanuel has received extensive international recognition and honors. He was selected by an international panel to exhibit his work at the 2003 and 2005 Biennale Internazionale dell’ Arte Contemporanea in Florence, Italy and honors from the International Digital Artists Association, EFX Art & Design Magazine (Sweden) and Digital Photography & Design (Australia). His work currently is on display in Australia and Tasmania with the traveling Epson International Digital Art Exhibition.

The heartbeat first featured Tony and his digital art in the October, 2006 issue:

Artist's Statement
"My work is an exploration into the unseen world of consciousness, that last amazing frontier -- inner space, one’s own consciousness. My goal is to inspire the viewer to the possibilities of the unseen world. I am inspired by visual artists Dali, MC Escher and Miro and the writings of Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell and Antonio Machado. The incredible creative synergy of these influences merge with my Zen meditation practice to inform my art.

My background as a digital artist is grounded in my earlier career as a professional photographer. I've always been intrigued with the process of manipulating images in the darkroom. My earliest art was created by sandwiching color transparencies in the printing process, creating images that were photographic yet surreal.

Fifteen years ago, I entered the digital medium with my first Macintosh computer. The computer gave me new freedom to express, create, experiment and explore realms of reality in ways I never could have imagined.

My creative process begins with a blank digital palette. The genesis of a new piece may be my own digital or conventional photographs, which I transform and fuse with other images. I was invited to show my art at the 2003 “Biennale Internazionale dell’ Arte Contemporanea” in Florence, Italy, and much of my recent work has been influenced by the incredible sculptures, architecture and Murano glass I discovered in Florence, Venice and Rome. Glimpses of nature and people also find their way onto my screen.

I may use up to six different software applications to manipulate the photo elements, or to create a piece that is purely digital art. My process is intuitive, and I am continually inspired by the images that emerge.

The art is printed as a limited edition using archival pigment ink and acid-free watercolor or archival photographic paper, depending on the image.

My hope is that my art, and the nearly endless images embedded within, will transport viewers to their own sense of wonder and discovery."

For a limited time, a giclee limited edition of "Three Sisters" is available for a reduced price of $150.00. "Three Sisters" (15x15 image on a 17x 20 sheet) is a giclee limited edition (of 20) printed on Arches Watercolor Paper with archival pigment ink. The ink set and archival paper combination has an estimated  to have a 120 year life without fading. Each Print is signed and numbered. Contact Tony Schanuel at tony@schanuelart.com if you have any questions or to purchase "Three Sisters" or any other pieces.

Three Sisters

"I was given some dry flowers by a fellow artist who also works at The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles Missouri where my studio is located, www.foundryartcentre.com. As I scanned them into the computer, I noticed that one of the flowers represented a hooded woman in a long flowing dress.  This was the genesis of the work, and the other components, the photographs of trees and created geometric shapes, came at the end.   This work reminded me of the bond women have spiritually and culturally, and it just seemed appropriate  to offer this piece to the Woman Within community."

Gaia's Lament click here to see more of Tony's art >>>>

My introduction to men’s work began in February 1994 when I did a New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA) weekend in Houston, Texas, at the invitation of my brother David Stone. I was amazed at the power of the weekend and the mission-driven component it provided me. After coming home to St. Louis, I found eight or nine men who also had attended NWTA at different times and places, and we all came together to create the first I-Group in St. Louis. This was the genesis of the St. Louis New Warrior community. After staffing weekends for six years, I chose to move towards a weekend leadership role and was certified as a co-leader in November 2000. In all, I’ve staffed about 45 weekends across the country. Some of the greatest gifts in doing this work were learning to trust men and to be vulnerable in taking risks in those relationships. I learned ways of being an authentic man among men, exploring and expressing feelings. Men’s work also has allowed me to give back to men the gift that was given to me, the ability to bless and be blessed by the sacred masculine, something I longed for most of my life. Four years ago, I went on sabbatical from NWTA to devote more energy and time to my art vocation. My mission is to awaken spirit in the world by creating art that reflects both the form and formlessness of being. I believe that the NWTA is very important work, a portal for discovery, a launching pad. But it is neither a magic bullet nor a panacea for growth and integration -- simply a tool to attain those goals. Personal growth work can be a lifesaving vehicle but I also believe it’s important to “get out of the boat,” to not be seduced into attachment or identity with the wound. I have found great gifts in attending the eight-day Hollow Bones meditation retreat, and I value quieting the mind and the ability to just be. I am blessed to have my partner in life, Mary, my wife, lover, friend and ally. In our alliance, we support each other through life. Tony Schanuel (NWTW Feb 1994 Houston TX) tony@schanuelart.com www.schanuelart.com www.schanuelphoto.com